“It’s such an elastic concept and it’s been steeped in TV for the last four decades,” executive producer Bob Daily said about why Neil Simon’s 50-year-old comedy TheOdd Couple is not a dusty sitcom premise for today’s generation. “I wrote on Frasier, and that was an Odd Couple with one Oscar and two Felixs,” added Daily at this morning’s TCA panel.

Along for the ride as a consultant behind the scenes is Garry Marshall, who executive produced and developed their original early ’70s sitcom starring Tony Randall as Felix Unger and Jack Klugman as Oscar Madison. CBS’ new version, which premieres on Thursday, February 19, stars Thomas Lennon as Felix and Matthew Perry as Oscar.

What’s the big difference between the reboot and the classic version? “Sex,” said Daily. “We actually get to see the pains of sharing an apartment while someone is having sex.”

Another big plus — today’s odd couple can have a bromance if they want and get touchy feely, something that was frowned upon during the early ’70s by network heads, per Marshall.

“The network was concerned that we were being too gay,” said Marshall about his days on the first iteration. “They kept saying ‘put more girls in it.’ I would make the guys gush and kiss just to make them crazy. Ours is a more modern show.”

Marshall marveled about Lennon and Perry’s input in the writers room. In the old days, “Klugman would do his part then go off to the race track, while Tony would finish his role and was busy with opera. These are guys are always pitching in.”

Perry, who also serves as EP on The Odd Couple, was key in rebooting the show. “I was driving around in my car and thought it would be great to remake The Odd Couple. I found out it was in development at CBS, so I told them I would like to do it.”

“It was a magical car,” joked Lennon. “That’s what you can do with Friends money — buy magical cars.” In what seemed like a set-up banter between Felix and Oscar, Perry sarcastically answered, “But you’re in Garry’s next movie.”

The actor said that he settled on being Oscar because “that’s who I’m like in real life” not to mention being Felix “was too close to Chandler” on Friends. He also mentioned that went it came to bringing Lennon aboard. “We didn’t go the usual network read route. We brouught him in and met with executives, who liked him in 10 minutes,” he said.

“Apparently, I annoyed them!” said Lennon, to which Perry answered, “That’s when we knew we had a show.”

Perry is all about having “an open atmosphere creatively on set. Even if the best joke comes from crafts services. That’s the best way to do a TV show, so nobody is tyrannical.”

The actor’s takeaway from working on short-lived sitcoms Mr. Sunshine and Go On in the wake of Emmy-winning juggernaut Friends? “Both shows were cool and had their moments. They were inspired to be something different. The hours were insane on both of them, this sitcom has actual hours from 10 am-4 pm — which I haven’t worked since 2004.”

Community fave Yvette Nicole Brown is a series regular on Odd Couple as Oscar’s assistant. She made a point during the panel to quell that show’s fan base, who thought she abandoned the Dan Harmon series for Odd Couple. Essentially, she left the series as she needed to tend to her father’s health issues — and the hours on Community were quite long. She lucked out when Odd Couple came along thereafter.

A few random notes: All of the plotlines on the new show are original, but there’s a joke in the pilot that was specifically lifted from the original Simon play, which premiered on Broadway in 1965. Instead of being a sportswriter, Oscar is a sports radio show host. Lennon threw himself into being Felix by starting up cello again and doing yoga. In terms of the fastidiousness of his character, Lennon said about playing cello on the show: “Sitting around and reading an article isn’t annoying enough.” Oscar longs for his ex-wife while dating women in the new version.

23 Comments

I grew up with the Odd Couple, and all super heroes that you force on the public as if it’s something new you created. There are no old shows I want to re-see, or movies for that matter.

Stop changing the positions of the same executives, and putting them in a new job, so that the bag of spoiled apples doesn’t change, as far as the mind goes. They couldn’t come up with a marketable idea between them, if they tried.

People, viewers, want no material, new ideas, new story lines, and not semi-plagerized material that you don’t need to think about. Stop putting the same show on for thousands of times…eg: 48 hours the movie!!!

Marie

HHGeek • on Jan 12, 2015 12:10 pm

Why is a reboot needed, when the film achieved everything that ever needed to be said?

Yrs,

FU.

Love this idea. • on Jan 12, 2015 12:12 pm

I hope it does well, because the world needs good four camera sitcoms, but I heard it was a bit of a mess behind the scenes. That said, success always ameliorates a bumpy road.

Kitty • on Jan 12, 2015 12:14 pm

When’s Gunsmoke coming back?

nerdrage • on Jan 13, 2015 11:17 am

I would watch Gunsmoke! But Lennon and Perry, wtf, which is Oscar and which is Felix? They’re both Felixes (Felices?)

• on Jan 12, 2015 12:36 pm

The promo I saw looked dreadful. I for one will pass on it.

Trent • on Jan 12, 2015 12:41 pm

It’s hard to make promos for multi cams. Just saying.

terrence • on Jan 12, 2015 1:14 pm

No it isn’t. They just don’t want to pay for people to do great ones.

mancheddar@yahoo.com • on Jan 12, 2015 12:37 pm

Being that Two and a Half Men has been on over a decade and was the highest rated comedy on TV for much of that time, I’d say modern audiences are willing to watch “The Odd Couple” reboot. They are already watching it.

Nick • on Jan 12, 2015 1:02 pm

This is exactly what Matthew Perry should be doing. He and Thomas Lennon together are perfect. I can’t wait for this show!

JOE S HILL • on Jan 12, 2015 1:06 pm

I Sure hope Garry Marshall sees first hand,how futile and wasted that this new version of “THE ODD COUPLE” is going to be,and especially with these two nobodies! NO ONE will ever succeed or best the likes of Jack Klugman and Tony Randal,no matter how sincere the intentions are,here! ABC tried this in 1982
with Black actors Demond Wilson (“SANFORD AND SON”) and Ron Glass(“BARNEY MILLER”),and that didn’t last very long! so whatever CBS is thinking here,it sure isn’t blowing any smoke up my pants-and especially in Primetime,21st century-what a swamp!! the original ABC/Paramount TV series
is STILL the superior-and way,WAY better then anything on TV today-good luck,
trying to top that!!

terrence • on Jan 12, 2015 1:18 pm

So a TV star and a broadcast network separately had the same bad idea.

JJ • on Jan 12, 2015 1:21 pm

Breaking news….Matthew Perry isn’t funny, ‘Friends’ was a hit show that was amusing he was able to on and people confused the writing and direction for his talent.

Agree with the other person saying The Odd Couple is on the air and it’s called Two 1/2 Men.

TC • on Jan 12, 2015 1:25 pm

This is gonna be hilarious. An instant classic. Classy, funny, smart. So excited for this.

• on Jan 12, 2015 1:38 pm

No.

Sophie • on Jan 12, 2015 1:40 pm

I think the promos look hilarious. I can’t wait for this show. Tom Lennon is so hilarious. I could watch him read the yellow pages. Yvette Nicole Brown and Wendell Pierce are amazing….what a cast!!!

• on Jan 12, 2015 1:41 pm

Garry Marshall, who never left the 1960s, or 1950s for that matter, will be the kiss of death for this show. Aren’t there 1st graders he can read to somewhere?

USA • on Jan 12, 2015 2:27 pm

WRONG CASTING! Would have chosen Jack Black & Jon Cryer instead. So… this show will bomb.

nerdrage • on Jan 13, 2015 11:18 am

At least Jack Black is plausible as Oscar. They cast two Felixes. Won’t work.

Black and Lennon, tho…hmm…

james • on Jan 12, 2015 7:03 pm

All I can say — why does Matthew Perry’s hair have to be that color?! Perry rules

fluffo • on Jan 12, 2015 7:24 pm

I dunno about Matty. I’m rooting for him, but this doesn’t sound promising. PS: He was a sports radio host in his last flop, “Go On.”

Theo • on Jan 13, 2015 11:53 am

Advanced buzz on this is really good. Thomas Lennon is a genius and Matthew Perry does well in an ensemble. I’m excited for it.